Following a threat against a Fulton Public Schools bus employee and the district's bus barn, three schools in the district were locked down as a precaution Wednesday afternoon.
Late Wednesday, the Fulton Police Department identified the suspect as Ryan Scott Bazer, 38, of North Dakota.
According to a press release from the Fulton Police Department, at 11:47 a.m., the department received a call advising of a bomb threat against the bus barn and a specific bus driver. According to the police, the threat was an apparent result of a domestic issue that occurred the night before.
Superintendent Jacque Cowherd said Fulton High, Bartley Elementary and Bush Elementary schools went on lockdown. The elementary schools were shut down as a precaution because that employee has family in those buildings.
Police believe the suspect is headed back to North Dakota or Iowa and are looking for a silver four-door Chevrolet Malibu with tinted windows and North Dakota license plates.
Those with information are asked to contact FPD at 573-592-2484 or 573-592-2485.
Bazer has an "extensive" criminal history and is known to be violent, according to authorities.
Officers from the Fulton Police Department, Callaway County Sheriff's Office and Missouri State Highway Patrol responded to assist with the situation and the following investigation.
"Staff followed their procedures, went into appropriate lockdown modes and did what we asked them to do in securing buildings and the kids inside," Cowherd said.
"Officers did a thorough inspection on the bus that was threatened and determined there was nothing involved there," Cowherd said Wednesday afternoon before school let out at its normal time. "Sheriff's officers are riding the bus that was threatened along with one of our administrators and bus driver. We called the parents on that bus, told them what the issues were and left it up to the parent whether they wanted to come get the kids or to ride the bus."
Lt. Clay Chism with the sheriff's office said the coordination amongst the three agencies was "a tremendous effort and shined highly on how law enforcement in Callaway County works together."
He said there were no incidents on the bus ride home.
"We received several inquiries from concerned parents and citizens, most of which were very understanding of the precautionary efforts taken and appreciative of the efforts of law enforcement," Chism said.
The Fulton Police Department is handling the continuing criminal investigation.
The lockdowns ended when officers arrived at each affected school. School was released at the normal time and officers supervised children as they left.
Cowherd said an investigation is still ongoing, and that officers believe the threatening individual is from out of the immediate area.
"If there's any positive in anything like this at all, it's the cooperation of the three major law enforcement agencies came together and were there to help us out and work with this issue," he said. "We're very pleased with that."
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